On Saturday we went to the messabout organized by the Delaware River chapter of the TSCA, the Traditional Small Craft Association.

We got there late, after a difficult morning of errands and slack. Once we got there I had a great time talking boats. I got to row a Michalak Robote - very cool very fast rowboat. I even took younger son out for a row.

I also took both boys for a short sail in a shellback dinghy. It was their first sailboat ride ever! Elder son got very upset when the boat first heeled, but once he recognized that small boats tip a little, and sailboats always tip a little, then he calmed down.

The Robote was great fun, and I am glad that I am building something very like it. (Mine will be a touch slower and more stable.) The Shellback was a pain to sail, but looking back my best memories of the day are seeing the two boys sitting side-by-side by the centerboard as we sailed this little dinghy around on a little lake.

In other news, the leading contender for boat B is Welsford's Walkabout.

Posted by Red Ted at September 10, 2007 08:27 AM | TrackBack